The state government makes a big announcement. West Bengal’s Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced a significant pay raise for senior resident doctors, interns, postgraduates, and other healthcare workers on Monday.
This announcement took place during an event organized by the state’s grievance redressal committee for doctors, hosted by the Health & Family Welfare department at the Dhono Dhanya Auditorium.
“We’ve already bumped up the salaries for both senior and junior resident doctors, but we felt another adjustment was needed. So, we’re increasing the salaries of senior resident doctors at all levels by Rs 15,000,” Banerjee stated.
With the new pay structure, senior resident doctors with diplomas will now earn Rs 80,000 instead of Rs 65,000, while postgraduate senior resident doctors will see their salaries rise to Rs 85,000 from Rs 70,000. Additionally, postgraduate senior doctors currently making Rs 75,000 will now receive Rs 1 lakh. The Chief Minister also announced a Rs 10,000 salary hike for interns, house staff, and postgraduate trainees.
Pooja Maitra, a Block Medical Officer from Shantipur Fulia, praised the decision, saying, “BDOs get 13 months’ salary in a year, and we’ve long wanted a 13th-month salary. Today, the CM announced an extra 15 days’ salary, which we truly appreciate.”
The event called Chikitsar Arek Naam Seva was all about tackling issues in the healthcare field. During her speech, Banerjee highlighted the need to safeguard women in the medical profession and urged for tough measures against any wrongdoing. “I’m counting on my brothers to look out for our sisters. It’s great to see men and women working, dining, and collaborating in the same space these days,” she mentioned.
On top of the salary boosts, Mamata Banerjee shared some exciting progress in healthcare during her time in charge, like setting up 42 super-specialty hospitals, a cord blood bank, and adding 40,000 beds in government facilities. “We’ve brought on 25,000 nurses and 5,000 paramedics. Plus, we’ve increased medical seats by 4,345 and nursing seats by 26,000,” she added.